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Downfall writer praises Hitler rant net meme

'I find those parodies tremendously amusing'

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The writer of 2004 German film Downfall has described as "tremendously amusing" the plethora of parodies featuring a ranting Hitler reacting angrily to various topical bad tidings - including the news he's been banned from Xbox Live, and Frank Lampard is signing for Inter Milan.

The net meme may, Variety suggests, have started in 2006, when one DReaperF4 "posted a clip on YouTube in which Hitler, in Spanish subtitles, loses it over a flight-simulator game". Since then, the world has been treated to a constant stream of alternative versions of varying quality, highlights including Adolf letting rip at grammar, er, strict police...

Somwehat churlishly, Constantin Film AG has moved to get the reworkings removed from YouTube on copyright grounds.

Screenplay writer and producer Bernd Eichinger, though, expressed his admiration for the clips, and told Variety: "I find those parodies tremendously amusing. Obviously, the film and this scene in particular is a real fire-starter for people's imagination. What else can you hope for as a filmmaker?

"My favorite one so far is when Hitler is having his tantrum over his losses in the real estate crisis. Hitler's real crisis at the time was also about a gigantic real estate loss: the loss of all those territories he had conquered, fueled by false credit and driven by avarice, megalomania and barbaric ruthlessness. And then history's Dow Jones came crushing down on him… I find this parody so funny because it's historically relevant."

Well, we'll conclude by offering our particular fave, which sums it all up nicely: